A STUDY OF EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES AND THEIR IMPACT ON TEACHING LEARNING PROCESS

Abstract

Distance education can be regarded as mediated form of education relying on various forms media and technologies. At present, it encompasses emerging technologies such as computers, Internet, World Wide Web, Educational Television and Video- conferencing. Distance teaching institutions are using these technologies to make teaching learning process more effective. The present study was conducted with the main objectives (i) to evaluate the effectiveness of emerging technologies in teaching learning process in Pakistan (ii) to evaluate the impact of emerging technologies on teaching learning process, (iii) to identify the problems involved in the use of emerging technologies in distance education. The study was delimited to the graduate level (BCS) final semester students, tutors and academicians enrolled in semester spring 2003 at UKOU, STOU and V.U. of Pakistan. Clustered sampling technique was used and 70% students, 100% tutors and 60% academicians from each of the universities were taken as viisamples. For each sample, individual questionnaire was developed on five point (Likert) scale to elicit their opinions. Data collected from the questionnaire of students was analyzed also by Chi Square (χ 2 ) alongwith percentage and mean score and the data collected from questionnaires of tutors and academicians was analyzed by applying percentage and mean score. From the analysis of data it was found that emerging technologies have facilitated distance education as an interactive process. Computers had disseminated theoretical and practical activities for remedial teaching and learning providing text and graphics. Learning through interest and work as effective and students got a variety of relevant material on the topic. ETV has created awareness to adopt good learning experiences from other countries. Video-conferencing influenced more human resources and promoted active participation of students. Students faced problems in having access to them. Therefore, it was concluded that emerging technologies have made distance education more effective and efficient in promoting individual learning, improving intellectual level of students and pedagogical skills of tutors and academicians. On the basis of conclusions, it was recommended that (i) long-term and short- term training and retraining of tutors and academicians may be made necessary (ii) students may be provided opportunities of orientation sessions in order to develop skills of using these technologies efficiently (iii) study centers may be equipped with emerging technologies having efficient guidance and counseling services cell.